May 2013
Many FMCA members in the baby boomer generation have followed in their parents’ or grandparents’ footsteps and acquired their own motorhomes. Others are trying out the RV lifestyle for the first time, buying a coach as their discretionary income allows. But Mike Middaugh didn’t wait. He became an FMCA member before the age of 21…
A look at Family Motor Coach Association and the motorhome lifestyle through the years, as portrayed in past issues of Family Motor Coaching magazine.
The FMCA tradition of motorhome owners gathering for fun and fellowship started with the association’s formation meeting in Hinckley, Maine, in July 1963 and was cemented with the first official convention the next summer in Ticonderoga, New York. That 1964 gathering drew families in 106 motor coaches from 20 states and Canada.
Going on seven years now, the Phaeton, manufactured by Tiffin Motorhomes, has been consistently rated as a top-selling Type A diesel motorhome, and the 2013 versions appear to be no exception. I recently had a chance to examine the 2013 Phaeton 36 GH, which was on display at an RV show.
Learn more about your motorhome and the RV lifestyle during the educational presentations at FMCA’s 88th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase this June.
Many FMCA members already have made plans to attend FMCA’s 88th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase — nicknamed “Celebrate In Gillette” to mark the association’s 50th anniversary — June 19-22, 2013, at the CAM-PLEX Multi-Event Facilities in Gillette, Wyoming. Are you among them?
“Ahh” is the most popular sound in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Most “ahhs” emanate with the steam that floats from the thermal baths that gave Thermopolis — “Hot City” in Greek — its name. But it’s best to wait and enjoy the rest of the town before dipping into these ancient hot waters, because a relaxing soak in them may lead to a nice, long nap.
The idea of traveling to FMCA’s 88th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase in Gillette, Wyoming, this June can really stir a traveler's imagination. Look on a map and you'll see that Gillette is so close to some of the West's most famous scenes that a motorhomer can feel obligated to experience as much as possible.
A step-by-step guide for cleaning and polishing aluminum rims.
This month brings much warmer weather across the Lower 48 states and on up into Canada. Most FMCA members who travel to warmer climes during the winter — our so-called snowbird members — are headed back to their comfortable summer locales.
Over the past two months in this column, I have recognized two individuals who had a vision for this association, which remains true to its founding principles 50 years later. You also may have read this month’s President's Message defining who we are. The next logical questions are what do we want to become in the next 50 years…
Excessive Maturity
Dear Editor:
I liked President Charlie Schrenkel's synonym for old age in the February 2013 issue: "excessive maturity" (page 8).If you’ve been meaning to adopt aspects of the Mediterranean diet into your lifestyle but need simpler recipes to mesh with your busy life on the go, let’s get started.
One of the most surprising discoveries during our past year of traveling across the country is how many other uses exist for our Type B motorhome besides camping.
Prevost Named Official Luxury Motorcoach Of NASCAR
Prevost and NASCAR recently announced a multiyear partnership that designates the Sainte-Claire, Quebec-based company as the Official Luxury Motorcoach of NASCAR.
Multi-Tool
The 12 Survivors Multi-Tool is a handy, versatile device that includes all the basic tools you may need in a compact, lightweight, handheld unit.
The Oswego Harborfest Rally, co-hosted by the Vintage Birds, Pen-NY Mixers, Fingerlakers, and New York Centrals chapters of FMCA, was a delightfully fun-filled, laid-back event on the shores of Lake Ontario.
John Samuelson, F19, passed away on February 7, 2013, in Bourne, Massachusetts, at the age of 95. He and his wife, Jean, who died in 2009, were among the 26 motor-coach-owning families who met in Hinckley, Maine, in July 1963 to view a solar eclipse.
Why ABS?
Dear RV Doctor:
Why do RV manufacturers use plumbing made of ABS material instead of PVC?The following company has a recall detailed in this month's Recall Corner: Prevost Car Inc.
Raining Inside Refrigerator
We have a 2009 41-foot diesel pusher with a Norcold four-door refrigerator. It runs on 120-volt-AC electric or propane. The ceiling inside the refrigerator is always wet, and the water drips down inside.
Taking the mystery out of the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system.